The caravans were circled in their permanent home . Children ran and played between the large wagons, with their built in homes on the back . A few leather and cloth tents had been constructed as the s.h.i.+fters settled into a new home . It had only been a month since they arrived, but this little glen had already become more like home than they had any right to expect . Mordakai had made it clear this was their land, that was more than the s.h.i.+fter's had ever had before . At the center of their circle a fire burned, white smoke curling toward the sky .

Kyera stood by the fire, using a stick to turn over the leaf packets sitting on the stone structure just out of the flame's reach . The smell of spices and meat filled the air as she made her signature meal . Part of her attention on Raina who ran and played with the other children, her best friend, a little rabbit girl was teaching her to climb and swing on vines . It wasn't something a Princess of Shadow Veil or even her home kingdom should do, but to Kyera she was also a Princess of the forest . It was precisely what a Forest Princess, or even a Frost Princess should do, so she didn't stop her .

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"How are you holding up, Ky?" Daxin asked as he wrapped another one of the packets, following the steps she had shown him . There were two other women there, both following the same steps . One being the shape s.h.i.+fter Cora, her body now scared from the battle with the Dark Ones . The other was a young mother, a fox s.h.i.+fter with a baby resting in her lap .  Kyera sat back down and continued to stuff the leaves with meat and vegetables .

"I don't really know . It is taking a lot of effort to get things done right now . I'm still healing I guess, I am so tired . " Kyera replied, stifling a yawn . Daxin frowned softly a bit concerned now . He was looking over her complexion and her physique . Her aura was strong, that wasn't draining her . Yet there seemed to be a slight color change .

"You had a brush with death, Princess . You know as well as I do that takes alot out of a person . " He reminded her gently . She frowned softly and laid three more packages on the fire by the ones already roasting . Using a stick, she removed the blackened packages that had already completed their cooking process .

Yeah but, normally I heal faster and move on . I mean it wasn't my first near death . " Kyera reminded him and Daxin flinched as he remembered the two other times he nearly lost her as a child . He shot her a sad glare, angry that she talked so lightly of it,but sad that he couldn't  chastise her . Death was like a old friend to her, having shrouded her every step of her young life .

"Kyera, you don't grow accustomed to near death experiences, your body doesn't heal faster the second than the first . This time it was a much deeper wound and your muscles were affected, as were your organs . Your body will need to heal fully and that will take time . " He reminded her . She sighed deeply folding the last leaf around its contents and putting them on the fire .

"I just wish it would stop affecting my eating habits . " Kyera chuckled brightly, her smile seemed to glow . The young mother beside her, Hydie was rather curious as she glanced at her princess . Perhaps she didn't know… and perhaps it wasn't Hydie's place to tell her . Not publicly at least . Hydie and Daxin exchanged glances .

"Hmm well loss of appet.i.te can come from system stress . " Hydie offered, probing the situation carefully . Kyera laughed and shook her head .

"I wish that was the problem . No, I'm eating more . It's to the point my corset needs extra lacing just to fit properly . " Kyera replied ruefully . Daxin dropped the parcel he had been trying to tie .